Chris Wilson was only five weeks old when his parents Anne-Marie and Robert introduced him to the world of ice hockey at Whitley Bay Ice Arena as the home team took on Murrayfield Racers.

And while he might have been too young to know what was going on at the time it was the start of a remarkable journey which will see the Paisley Pirates forward line up for Great Britain in China next February at the World University (Winter) Games.

The Glasgow University student has been training with the squad for over a year but it was only last month he found out he’d made the cut and would be taking his place in the 18-man GB squad.

Opportunity

The Johnstone lad will now line up against some of the best players in the world in the city of Harbin in north-east China and he’s positively relishing the opportunity.

And Chris is hoping the tournament will be the perfect platform to showcase his talents although the level-headed 19-year-old is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

He told Express Sports: “I’ve been training with the university squad for a year and have been to Finland twice for training camps and now I’ve been named in the final team for China, so it’s all systems go.

“It’s a great opportunity as the standard is excellent and it’s just one step down from the Olympic Games and will undoubtedly will be the biggest stage I’ve played on – and I’m looking forward to it.

“Some of the teams we’ll be playing against will have players that will go on to play in the NHL. Some of the best players in the world are taking part and my aim is to be competing against them.

“It’s also a great opportunity to see the world and I don’t think I would ever get to visit a place like China without ice hockey.

“My ambition is to really try and play at the highest level I can, and although university is still the priority I would love to see where ice hockey takes me.

“I can’t play ice hockey for ever which is why university is so important but it would be a dream to get paid for playing a hobby I’ve loved all my life.”

Chris started skating at the age of four and immediately fell in love with the sport, although he’s had to make sacrifices from the word go.

His first team was Paisley Juniors and he would get up at 5.30am every Sunday morning for training until he eventually joined Paisley Colts playing his first competitive game at the age of just six.

Chris’ burgeoning talents didn’t go unnoticed and he was called up for the Scotland under-11 squad at the age of nine.

He then progressed to pay for the Paisley Braves at under-12 level while his international career continued to blossom as he was called up for the under-13 age group.

It was with the Braves that he first really began to cement his reputation when the young Buddies travelled to Munich and won the Seven Nations Tournament against teams from Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria and Holland.

Chris also represented Scotland at under-15 level and after moving up to the Paisley Warriors he then progressed to the Paisley Chiefs where he captained the team to victory at the prestigious annual Den Haag tournament.

At 15 the St Cuthbert’s High School pupil made his debut for the Paisley Pirates and he’s enjoyed a glittering career with the Braehead men establishing himself as an automatic selection before he turned 16.

In season 2004/05 he was named Pirates’ Most Improved Player and doubled that honour up by winning the Nancy Chisholm Memorial Trophy for Pirates’ Rookie of the Year.

He also helped the Pirates to Scottish Cup glory in the same season while the following year he was named Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.

Campaign

In 2006/07 he was again named Player of the Year and in the following campaign he picked up the Most Improved Player gong for the second time.

Chris admits it can be tough packing so much into his busy schedule together with his university commitments and training ,while he also works two nights a week at the One o One off-sales in Johnstone.

Yet he still finds time for his childhood sweetheart Emma McSloy and remarkably plays off of a handicap of just nine at Cochrane Castle Golf Club despite only being able to play a round once a fortnight.

But Chris believes all the sacrifices are worthwhile although he was also quick to pay tribute to the coaches behind the scenes who have helped him out over the years.

He added: “Being at university you have to try and find the right balance but I go to the gym about three nights a week and we train twice a week and there’s also at least two games a week during the season.

“I also work as well two nights a week but I try and have a night to myself each week to see my girlfriend Emma but she’s great about it all.

“At the end of the day I enjoy ice hockey and I love the sport.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie in the dressing room and a lot of jokes get played on each other but it’s all good fun.

“We spend at least three nights a week together so you have to have fun and that creates the team spirit which is essential if you want to do well, because you all have to be rooting for each other.

Support

“I’ve been very fortunate that people like Bernie Bruce, John Connor, Danny McAllister, Jim Allen and my first coach Hector Adam have been there throughout my career as they’ve all really helped me and I wouldn’t be playing at the level I am without their support.”

Chris has just one problem before he heads over to China and that is he must find the not insignificant sum of £1,600.

Most of the 18-man squad receive funding from the Talented Athlete Sponsorship Scheme but that is only on offer to English-based students, which means Chris, his fellow Pirate Mark Fowley, and another Scotsman and Welshman have to secure their own

Funding.

In this era of the credit crunch that is easier said than done, but Chris’ family and friends are holding a race night on Friday, November 21, and they hope to raise money through that.

However, Chris is also hoping to secure sponsorship from local businesses – and anyone interested should give him a call on 07976 623552.